 Strong indications have suggested that senators mainly from the south west have called for a meeting where they will take a decision To work towards reviewing their position on the choice of leadership of the Senate This is coming amid speculations that the candidacy of the former Senate minority leader Senator Goswyl Aquabio may have hit a brick wall as President Bola Metsinibu is said to have withdrawn his support for him In the contest for the Senate president in the 10th National Assembly Recall that the all-progressive Congress APC had announced the endorsements of Senator Goswyl Aquabio and three others for the top most positions In the National Assembly. We're joining us to discuss this is E. H. Cree-Bagey. He's a public affairs analyst Thank you so much for joining us and happy new year It's interesting that this there's a back-and-forth or it's bouncing like a yo-yo as to the party has come out clearly to say This is who we want or these are our preferred candidates for both the upper and the lower house but the case of God now former God not Fabio seems to be a very sensitive topic and The South West seems to be kicking against it. What do you think that is? Well, I think that essentially they would like to have They would like to have it in totality of it in the back in terms of the person who leads the Senate for them they are being very careful because For the previous the night Assembly we call that that nice in it Leadership didn't rock the boat in any way. So they had it really smooth And so they would keep tweaking and looking. This is a period of wheeler dealing And they want to ensure that the personality who eventually takes a position of somebody that will bring a lot of harmony Who pulled together the party and and they certainly Keep looking at any individual that they're going to come up with to ensure that that person Falls in line with that. So essentially, it is just to ensure that we eventually takes that position with somebody who Who keep the keep the party together? Of course, no fragmentation. It's no issue So at such a time if there's any complaint from any party even before this election We even for electing the the president comes up. They certainly will listen to it And then for the for the president himself to have allegedly withdrawn his support It says a lot What could be the possible concerns for an aquabute knowing that I mean he's a very he Has a resume of a performing governor who's done some things He also had a resume of someone who's had a brush with EFCC now and again And of course corruption issues powered up against him, which have still not been proven But in terms of loyalty, can it be questioned? Well, you know when you look at You look very strongly at The the makeup of the of a senior president in the past few nights and eight The you see you find out that largely to light percentage Do you want to retain the loyalty? There is very key to them somebody who has not moved too much essentially I mean the last the night, which is just about to tip out He's been he's been straight in friend one loyal party member And that speaks a lot and that's one of the things that the president even during the campaign period Down to this period had always spoken to I've even in the run-up to this in these endorsements Each of the party leaders have always spoken about, you know, retaining that loyalty even when the house current house of right and Recently named chief that spoke and he spoke about loyalty Do not take issues outside the party we can solve this issues within the party I think that resonates a lot for them for for for the city because essentially They are the former performance. I mean, I mean for them for the laws and the bills are gonna be passed by this president who is Who needs to perform big-time They want that president to one be very loyal, right and to who may not have some of those Bugs those excess luggage that I have to do things like and corruption I don't know that so those are some of the key issues in terms of Let me ask a trick question. Yeah, who's been in the national century for so long with a clean slate? Essentially allegedly, I mean I mean answering that question the trick man allegedly No Let's talk about loyalty because you see you keep stressing about loyalty Many would point fingers at the Syracuse-led Senate as one of the very problematic Senate leaderships, but then it was for the good for many materials for a good class And they also it resonated with Nigerians. They felt a bit taken along or carried along But then we see am at Lauren who says when we get go everything you bring you will take it Where is the place of true democracy and the voices of the people that you say that you're representing on the floor of the National Assembly? What about asking us how we feel about it instead of? Putting party loyalty ahead of democracy and good governance To be very the very sincere and upfront the ex-assembly saw very vibrant And very vibrant discussions very vibrant engagements on the floor of the Senate Considered as one of the most vibrant one of the most In terms of the people they spoke a lot setting bills that didn't seem to fall in line What the people wanted there were not supported in contrast to this current? About to be faced out assembly where it was more less where people some people call it allegedly More there's like a rubber stamp So to speak I struggle not to use that but So but essentially It's in the world we live in and in the country we which we live in now It is very important that we have Assemblance of a Senate and a house of rep that speak for the people hmm It's picked for the people and if reality Indicates That you panda to everything the party wants Right as against what the people like what the people want and you're not going to speak for the people Then I think that they should go with that that structure that speaks to what and the people like because you look What has been faced today the task ahead is Enormous I cannot even begin to say that in terms of what it is and the laws they make are very very important already The first time was in past as you can see the fourth thing that The the subsidy thing that we removed is costing some major You know issues out there and so whatever Senate leadership that comes in will have a huge role to play You can see that the label have filed off the first time already that was in time So you need a leadership that is going to you know desk in irrespective of and their party affiliations can speak up Oh, it's necessary. I want to believe that that is one of the considerations now if I just mean In the road up to these endorsements that you know There was some kind of disenchantment from some senior members of the House of Rep members And even some of the house is saying it as it was reported in setting quarters And those were in terms of the choices that were being endorsed. So the party will also be mindful of that All right, and they don't want a situation whereby I'm getting to the day of the election of those key members All right, I mean the party only has its majority, but if I'm Setting individuals aside to guard up all right, you know support from the Opposition who are lower in number and also get some numbers from their own party. It totally takes them out of that majority And that is one thing they don't want. So this as I said before is a prime of politicking. This is Politicking is is really dealing they want to retain leadership They want to retain majority and that is one of reasons why I believe I strongly that these decisions have been taken Let's put the personalities. I mean, we might not be able to name all of them But if it were not to be an aquabit, who do you think the party especially those from the South West would want to go go with? because Again, one of the criteria is that you must have been in the part in you know in the Senate London off for you to be elected to that office We have a lot more newcomers if you ask yeah, and so the pool from which they have to pick from is very very small Who else can take that particular position if not an appabio and I'm not in any way saying that he's the only one because we've also seen I think said it's our lindu may also saying that this is not fair and the North also is Is a lot but the party has also come up to say well We're not saying that you all can't run but we're saying these are the people that we're endorsing for me That's talking from both sides of your mouth, but hey Without having to I you know Even at some point I just look at him campaign in fact And I think that they are at this point being a bit careful You know now they have the president of the bad. They have the vice president in the back They are also considering very strongly the ethnic and religious so why not? Use our color because they also trying to pacify Ethnic sentiments and and that is where that is where that is one of the things that you know It kind of surprises me too, and it's also it also makes me get to feel that essentially one of the reasons also is that maybe Loyalty in terms of decampment is an essential in the ingredient Because I mean for them, I mean we look at him and he's it's more less also a perfect perfect person for that position, but He wasn't given that thought and now this this support has improved up So it gives me the indication that you know that decampment is also essential for them They want to see a straight jack party man Straight out you kick out you could run good. I mean a little me also could pass for that Well, I learned a little me has not positioned himself for this in it He has only said that look the not this part of the region He has not come out to say I want to be Essentially that is what it is. I don't know how many names from the south right now I couldn't recall very much not too many people have actually, you know, put their hat into the ring So essentially what I think will have actually happened is this peak is going to be a very tight-knit peak I think it's gonna be a very tight-knit peak, and I think that they're going to get a full and instructive endorsement of Majority of not just the APC senators and the House of Rep members, but even Also made a case that this should not the president should not concern himself with matters of the National Assembly Being that this is a an election I can't quote directly, but this is an election that involves members of the National Assembly and not necessarily The party nor Mr. President because they want to consider it a proper democratic process as opposed to party selection Essentially to be sincere. I think we've gone that route has sailed. I mean what I mean by that is that He's he's hosting them and seemingly allegedly endorsing them And I also again allegedly pulling off a support gives an indication that he's smart in it And of course, if the reports that we had true that the later that was given to the COS spoke to for taint and given indication that the taint Of June's elation. It also gives you indication where it's actually The former president immediate past president if you recall he kept him kept his way It kept his form away From whatever entailed in terms of see a present and doubt for me seemed like like a logical thing to do Maybe allowing the His senior special advisors of political affairs to handle that away from him that kind of gives a different ring to it I'm not supporting anybody, but essentially the person who supposed to be my support is doing it for It gives that the it gives a face of a president who? Who is what's what's what to call nice totally? You know I want to thank you because of unfortunately our time is fast-paced, but He is a political analyst. Thank you. So good to have you in the studio after a long time after the elections Quickly the highlights of the week for those of you who have not been with us since Monday Just what you missed my name is Mary Anna could have a great weekend. We'll see you on Monday